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18 Change of Name of a Child in Care
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136 <h1>
136 Change of Name of a Child in Care
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 This procedure applies to all changes of a Child in Care's forename or surname, formal or
informal.
144 </p>
145 <p>
145 Allowing a child to adopt a new forename and/or surname amounts to a change of name and is
therefore covered by this procedure.
145 </p>
146 </div>
153 <div class="section">
153 <h2 id="nec_con">
153 1. Necessary Consents
153 </h2>
154 <p>
154 Children aged 16 years or over (with mental capacity) are generally free to apply in their
own right to change their name via deed poll.
154 </p>
155 <p>
155 However where a child is subject to a Care Order, Special Guardianship Order or Child
Arrangements Order, the relevant age is 18. Changing the name of any child under 18 who is
subject to any of these orders requires the written consent of everyone with Parental
Responsibility. This applies whether the person wishing to change the name is the parent or
the child. Where consent is not forthcoming, or all those with Parental Responsibility
cannot be found, a court order is required before the child's name can be changed (see
155 <a href="#without">
155 Section 3, Changing a Name without the Agreement of those with Parental Responsibility
155 </a>
155 ).
155 </p>
156 <p>
156 A child who is accommodated under s.20 Children Act 1989 can apply to change their name at
16 if there are no private law orders (e.g. no Special Guardianship Order or Child
Arrangements Order).
156 </p>
157 Any child who wishes to change their name should be encouraged to discuss the matter carefully
with their Social Worker, parents and/or carers, the Independent Reviewing Officer and any
available advocacy service.
157 </div>
158 <div class="section1">
158 </div>
164 <div class="section">
164 <h2 id="changing">
164 2. Changing a Name with the Agreement of those with Parental Responsibility
164 </h2>
165 <p>
165 The social worker should contact the child's parents/carers to seek their written consent to
the child's change of name. Even where the father does not have Parental Responsibility and
his consent is not strictly required, it may still be appropriate that he should be
consulted and his views obtained. The local authority legal adviser should be asked to
clarify this, particularly if there are any unusual circumstances and it is considered
undesirable to seek parental consent on this issue.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 If those with Parental Responsibility consent, the child's social worker should discuss the
matter with the Designated Manager (Change of Name) to also seek their agreement to the
change of name. The social worker should prepare a written report setting out the reason for
the request to change the name and attach a copy of the parents' written consents. This
report should be retained on the child's case record.
166 </p>
167 <p>
167 When all the necessary consents have been obtained, the social worker (or the child/young
person depending on their age and level of understanding) should download and complete the
forms required for changing a child's name (
167 <a href="http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/GetForm.do?court_forms_id=2723"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
167 Minor Deed Poll Pack, HM Courts & Tribunals Service
167 </a>
167 ). There is a small fee to pay.
168 </p>
169 <p>
169 The completed forms and accompanying documents (e.g. written consent from parents/carers)
should be sent to:
169 <br />
170 Queen's Bench Division
170 <br />
171 Action Department
171 <br />
172 The Royal Courts of Justice
172 <br />
173 Strand
173 <br />
174 London
174 <br />
175 WC2A 2LL
175 </p>
176 </div>
177 <div class="section1">
177 </div>
183 <div class="section">
183 <h2 id="without">
183 3. Changing a Name without the Agreement of those with Parental Responsibility
183 </h2>
184 <p>
184 Before seeking a court order it is important to first try and seek the agreement of those
with Parental Responsibility.
184 </p>
185 <p>
185 If the child is subject to a Care Order and consent from all those with Parental
Responsibility is not forthcoming, an application to change the child's name would have to
be made to the court under section 33(7) Children Act 1989.
185 </p>
186 <p>
186 If the child is subject to a Child Arrangements Order/Residence Order or Special
Guardianship Order, then an application would have to be made under s.13(1) or s.14C3 CA
1989.
186 </p>
187 <p>
187 Applying for a court order should be a last resort, and the court will expect parties to
have tried to reach an agreement first.
187 </p>
188 <p>
188 In deciding whether to agree to a change of name, the court's paramount consideration will
be the welfare of the child.
188 </p>
189 <h3>
189 Changes of surname
189 </h3>
190 <p>
190 Courts tend to resist consenting to changes of surname, because:
190 </p>
191 <ul>
192 <li>
192 The initial registration of the child's name is considered to be a profound matter, and -
other things being equal - it is in the long-term interests of a child for them to be
known by their birth name;
192 </li>
193 <li>
193 The child's surname is seen as an important link to their birth father or mother and as
such is an important part of the child's identity.
193 </li>
194 </ul>
195 <p>
195 The application to the court must set out clear reasons why it is in the best interests of a
child, to justify a change of surname.
195 </p>
196 <p>
196 The court will take the child's views into account, and if the child themselves wants to
change surname, the court is more likely to agree.
196 </p>
197 <h3>
197 Changes of first name
197 </h3>
198 <p>
198 If a child is subject to a Care Order/Interim Care Order, and wants to be known by another
first name, then no court order is needed, as the local authority can make the decision to
change a child's first name by exercising their power to determine the extent to which the
parents/guardians may meet their Parental Responsibility under s33(3)(b) Children Act 1989,
provided they are satisfied it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote the
child's welfare.
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